Out of town shops hit by sticky fingered criminals

Shoplifting has nearly doubled at Reading’s out of town stores as the credit crunch bites.

The superstores have seen a 44 per cent increase in ‘five finger discounts’ reported to the police.

Thieves have taken ‘do-it-yourself’ literally as police spokesman Adam Fisher said the worst hit store in the South Reading neighbourhood was B&Q at the Reading Gate Business Park, near Madejski Stadium.

Other shops hit were those at the Brunel Retail Park in Rose Kiln Lane as statistics from April to July this year showed the number of incidents had more than doubled from 32 offences to 72.

Total crimes in the area have risen by nearly three per cent, but it’s not all bad news for the crime-hit Whitley beat.

There have been 26 fewer cases of criminal damage, a drop of 18 per cent, but due to an increased police stance against drugs, the Neighbourhood Action Groups’ number one priority, targeted raids have meant offences increased from 56 to 69. Inspector Kevin Sinfield, lead officer for Neighbourhood Policing in the area, was keen to rid it of its bad reputation, and said one way was by keeping tabs on known offenders.

He said: “In Whitley there’s a small minority of people committing crimes, causing anti-social behaviour and making people’s lives a misery.

“We know who they are and they know we are watching them closely. The team are targeting them to help reduce crime and when we see them out and about we are stopping them.”

Insp Sinfield also likened Whitley to his other neighbourhood, East Reading, which had recently seen levels of crime drop by more than 10 per cent.

He added: “I have been pleased with the support we’ve seen from the community over the last year because to start with it wasn’t great.

“The NAGs used to be like that in East Reading, but if you look at the work that’s been done there, then you can see the kind of thing we’re working towards.

“Now the team and the NAGs are working well together and this should be a great benefit.”

A spokeswoman for B&Q told the Evening Post that the store was aware of the shoplifting situation and that security systems were in place to protect customers, staff and merchandise.

She added that the hardware store would always support police wherever possible to help reduce crime.